July 17, 2017

press release of the fact finding on the desecration of religious structures and burial places across South Goa, jointly conducted by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) and the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP)

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Press Release

Fact finding team’s brief report on
investigation of the desecration of Holy Crosses and graves in South Goa

A
five member team visited the sites of desecration of religious structures and
burial places across South Goa on 14th July 2017 to understand the
ground reality. The members of the fact finding team were Adv. Irfan Engineer,
Director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) and Neha Dabhade associated
with CSSS, Fr. Savio Fernandes, Executive Secretary, Council for Social Justice
and Peace (CSJP), Ranjan Solomon and Roselle Solomon, prominent activists
working for rights of minorities associated with CSJP.

The
team visited the sites of desecration at Curtorim, Chandor, Gudi-Paroda and
Curchorem in South Goa. They spoke to the priests of the related Churches,
members of the Christian community, people’s elected representatives, politicians
and people from across various faiths. Till the time of going to the press the
team was unable to meet the police officials due to time constraints although
appointments were fixed, however the team will meet the officials prior to the
final report.

The
observations on ground points to a possibility that the incidents of
desecration and vandalism are a part of a pattern which is planned and executed
by the same persons or organizations. All the attacks have been executed with heavy
steel implements directed at the bases of the structures to cause maximum
damage. The team sensed the pain and anguish which was palpable in the shock
and fear on the faces of the members of the community.

The
general perception of the community pointed to certain statements at a Hindu
conclave and during the visit of a National office bearer of the political
party in Government as possibly encouraging such incidents.

The
desecrations are carried out in a form of a campaign to strike fear, insecurity
and mistrust among communities in Goa. Most of the desecrated crosses visited
by the team have been targeted more than once in the past more particularly
hinged around political developments in the state. The law and order machinery
have failed to solve the cases and apprehend the culprits responsible for such
crimes thereby emboldening the perpetrators. The helplessness and fear
prevalent in the Christian community is giving rise to a feeling of being
treated as second class citizens.

The
following are the primary findings after the interactions:

The
atmosphere in Goa is vitiated and communalized to cause polarization through
relentless anti minority narrative. Christians and Muslims are especially
targets of demonization through false propaganda. Muslims are portrayed as
terrorists and loyal to Pakistan while Christians are portrayed as being agents
of Portugal and anti-nationals and seeking to convert members of other
religious communities through fraud/ inducement.

The
fact finding team recommends that strict action in accordance with law be taken
against individuals/ organizations indulging in hate campaigns against
minorities in Goa and those responsible for desecration and vandalism. To
ensure transparency it would be appropriate to order a judicial commission to
investigate the desecrations in a time bound manner. The team also urged the
civil society organizations to continue their struggle for justice to the
citizens of Goa.

Incidentally,
at the time of going to the press, it has been reported that one Mr. Francis
Pereira has admitted to have single handedly desecrated and vandalized one
hundred and forty odd religious symbols since the last five years. The team
strongly feels that the arrest appears as a familiar script to similar crimes
across the country to pacify the civil society and the affected
communities and divert attention from the actual perpetrators. The extensive
damage caused as witnessed by the fact finding team could not have been
possibly inflicted by a single person, more over who is 50 years old. The fact
finding team demands an impartial investigation into the crimes.

Map of L K Advani's Rath Yatra of 1990

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